Chapter 272 Return to Earth

January 30, 2040.

9:00 AM, Geostationary Orbit, Sky Ladder Space Station.

The Elevator Car was quietly docked at the Space Station's docking port. The hatch was open, and three astronauts were saying their goodbyes to the companions staying behind.

Zhang Pengfei shook Old Ma's hand firmly. "See you in half a year."

Old Ma smiled. "When I take the elevator down then, you'd better treat me to some braised pork."

Zhang Pengfei nodded. "You can have as much as you want."

Engineer Li Wei embraced Old Zhang nearby. "Take good care of my flowers."

Old Zhang was taken aback. "What flowers?"

"That pot of space pothos." Engineer Li Wei pointed to a small flowerpot in the corner of the living quarters. "I've been growing it for half a year. Don't let it die."

Old Zhang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Alright, alright, I'll water it every day."

Medical Monitor Wang Yanan held hands with Sister Wang, whispering something. Sister Wang's eyes were a bit red, and Medical Monitor Wang Yanan gently patted the back of her hand.

"Get in." Zhang Pengfei checked the time. "It's time to go."

The three turned and floated into the Elevator Car. The hatch slowly closed, separating them from the Space Station.

Outside the window, the six figures staying behind pressed against the portholes, waving to them.

Zhang Pengfei raised his hand and waved back.

Then he turned around and sat in the pilot's seat.

"Ground control, Elevator Car is ready," he said.

Chen Xueming's voice came through the comms, carrying a trace of imperceptible tension. "Received. Prepare for descent."

9:15 AM, the descent began.

The Elevator Car jolted slightly and then slowly detached from the Space Station. Outside the window, the massive silver-white structure grew more distant and smaller, eventually becoming a point of light that vanished into the starry sky.

In its place was the blue planet, drawing closer and closer.

"Altitude is dropping," Engineer Li Wei stared at the instrument panel. "Current speed is ten meters per second."

Medical Monitor Wang Yanan felt the changes in her body. "There's a slight feeling of weightlessness, but it's more comfortable than during the ascent."

Zhang Pengfei nodded without speaking. He just watched the Earth growing larger outside the window, observing the familiar clouds, oceans, and continents.

Three days ago, he had departed from there.

Now, he was going back.

10:00 AM, altitude twenty thousand kilometers.

The Elevator Car passed through the Van Allen radiation belt, and the starry sky outside was enveloped in a faint green halo. Those were high-energy particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field, forming an invisible barrier in space.

"Radiation levels are normal," Medical Monitor Wang Yanan stared at the monitor. "The protective layer is effective."

Engineer Li Wei breathed a sigh of relief. "That gave me a scare; I thought we were going to get blasted by radiation."

Zhang Pengfei laughed. "What are you afraid of?"

Engineer Li Wei said seriously, "I'm afraid of losing all my hair when I get back."

Medical Monitor Wang Yanan was amused by him.

The green halo outside grew fainter, gradually disappearing behind them. Ahead, Earth already occupied half the sky, dazzlingly blue.

11:00 AM, altitude ten thousand kilometers.

The Elevator Car entered Earth's shadow, and the world outside suddenly turned pitch black. No sun, no starlight—only a faint golden halo around the distant edge of the Earth, the twilight formed by sunlight passing through the atmosphere.

"It's a bit scary," Engineer Li Wei whispered.

Zhang Pengfei nodded. "It is a bit."

The three watched the window in silence. Darkness enveloped everything, with only the data on the instrument panel flickering. Occasional reports from the ground came through the comms, those voices being their only link to the outside world.

Fifteen minutes later, the Elevator Car burst out of the shadow.

Sunlight suddenly poured in, filling the car with light. Outside, Earth reappeared, closer and larger than before.

Engineer Li Wei let out a long breath. "Daylight is still better."

Medical Monitor Wang Yanan smiled. "Are you afraid of the dark?"

Engineer Li Wei glared at her. "Aren't you?"

Medical Monitor Wang Yanan thought about it. "A little."

All three of them laughed.

12:00 PM, altitude five thousand kilometers.

The clouds outside were clearly visible. White, cotton-like masses floated over the blue ocean, casting faint shadows onto the water's surface.

Engineer Li Wei leaned against the window, watching the clouds like a child. "So beautiful. From up here, they look like marshmallows."

Medical Monitor Wang Yanan leaned in. "The blue part below, that's the Pacific Ocean, right?"

Zhang Pengfei nodded. "Yes. Further that way, we should be able to see the Asian continent."

The three of them stared out the window together, searching for the familiar outlines of land.

"I see it!" Engineer Li Wei suddenly shouted. "Over there! The brown part! It's the continent!"

Zhang Pengfei looked in the direction he was pointing—indeed, at the edge of the blue ocean, a stretch of brown land was slowly emerging.

That was Asia.

That was home.

1:00 PM, altitude one thousand kilometers.

The clouds outside seemed within reach. The Elevator Car passed through the troposphere and began to bump slightly.

"Entering the atmosphere," Zhang Pengfei stared at the instrument panel. "Speed reduced to three meters per second."

Engineer Li Wei felt his body weight slowly returning. "Gravity is starting to take effect."

Medical Monitor Wang Yanan nodded. "It feels a bit heavy."

Outside, the clouds grew closer and thicker. Suddenly, the Elevator Car plunged into a mass of white mist, and nothing could be seen outside.

"Passing through the clouds," Zhang Pengfei said. "Don't worry, it's normal."

The three waited quietly. A few seconds later, the outside suddenly brightened—they had passed through the clouds.

Below was the azure ocean.

And a tiny black dot was waiting for them on the sea surface.

That was the platform.

1:30 PM, altitude one hundred kilometers.

The platform was clearly visible. That hexagonal steel island, with six tower cranes standing at its edges, the central complex, the helipad on the east side, the pier on the north side... everything was so familiar.

Chen Xueming's voice came through the comms, clearly excited. "We see you! Thirty kilometers to go!"

Zhang Pengfei smiled. "We see it. The platform is beautiful."

Engineer Li Wei leaned against the window and waved frantically, even though he knew the people below couldn't see him.

Medical Monitor Wang Yanan stared at the approaching platform, her eyes a bit red.

Thirty kilometers.

Twenty kilometers.

Ten kilometers.

Five kilometers.

One kilometer.

Five hundred meters.

One hundred meters.

"Prepare for landing," Zhang Pengfei's voice was steady.

The Elevator Car descended slowly, its speed decreasing. The platform grew larger and clearer outside the window. Those figures, that equipment, everything familiar.

Ten meters.

Five meters.

One meter.

"Touchdown."

The Elevator Car jolted slightly and landed steadily on the platform.

1:35 PM, the hatch opened.

Sunlight poured in, carrying the scent of the sea breeze. A salty, warm, and real scent.

Zhang Pengfei was the first to step out. He stood at the hatch, squinting to adjust to the sunlight, then walked down the ramp.

Beneath his feet was solid steel plating. Real, stable, and reassuring steel.

He looked up and saw countless faces.

Chen Xueming stood at the very front, his eyes red but smiling brightly. Wang Lei was jumping up and down beside him like a child. Liu Jianguo, Xiao Zhou, and those unnamed workers were all standing there, clapping and cheering.

He turned around and saw Engineer Li Wei come out, followed by Medical Monitor Wang Yanan.

The three of them stood in a row, facing the crowd.

Then they raised their hands and waved to the crowd.

The applause grew louder. The cheers were deafening. Someone set off fireworks—red, gold, and green—blooming in the sky.

Chen Xueming rushed over and gave Zhang Pengfei a big hug.

"You're back!" his voice choked up. "You're back!"

Zhang Pengfei patted his back and said with a smile, "We're back."

Engineer Li Wei was surrounded by Wang Lei and the others, who lifted him up and tossed him into the air. He shouted in fright but couldn't stop grinning.

Medical Monitor Wang Yanan was surrounded by several female workers; someone handed her flowers, someone wiped her tears, and someone held her hand tightly.

The platform was a chaotic mess.

But everyone was smiling.

2:00 PM, Lin Mo's helicopter landed on the platform.

As he stepped off the helicopter, he saw the trio of Zhang Pengfei being crowded by the workers, heading towards the Canteen. Chen Xueming led the way, shouting all the while, "Make way, make way! Let them eat first!"

Lin Mo smiled.

He stood where he was, not going over.

Chen Xueming saw him, was taken aback for a moment, and then ran over.

"Old Lin! Why didn't you say something earlier!" He pulled Lin Mo toward the crowd. "Come on, come on, let's eat together!"

Lin Mo was pulled by him into the crowd.

Zhang Pengfei saw him and stood at attention with a salute. "Chief Designer Lin!"

Engineer Li Wei and Medical Monitor Wang Yanan also saluted.

Lin Mo looked at them, at the tired but excited smiles on their faces, at the spacesuits they were still wearing, and at the Elevator Car behind them that had just carried them to space and back.

He raised his hand and returned the salute.

Then he lowered his hand and smiled.

"You've worked hard."

Zhang Pengfei shook his head. "It wasn't hard. It was worth it."

Lin Mo nodded and then pointed toward the Canteen.

"Master Liu made braised pork. There's plenty for everyone."

The eyes of the three lit up.

Engineer Li Wei was the first to dash off. "braised pork, here I come!"

Zhang Pengfei and Medical Monitor Wang Yanan chased after him, laughing.

Lin Mo stood where he was, watching their retreating backs.

Chen Xueming stood beside him, watching as well.

"Old Lin," he said softly, "we really did it."

Lin Mo nodded.

"Yeah, we did."

In the distance, cheers and laughter came from the Canteen.

The sea breeze blew in, carrying the aroma of braised pork.

Thirty-six thousand kilometers above, that cable was still there.

The bridge to the stars is now open.